The document discusses the steps and techniques involved in participatory rural appraisal (PRA). It outlines three key steps: rapport building, maintaining protocols, and data collection using tools and techniques. Rapport building is important for developing relationships and collecting reliable information from local communities. Protocols establish rules of conduct for the team. During data collection, techniques like semi-structured interviews, iteration, and probing are applied. Debriefing sessions allow the team to review findings. Understanding these steps, building rapport, and using the appropriate techniques are vital for effective information gathering through PRA.

1. DURING PRA
RAPPORT BUILDING, MAINTAING PROTOCOLS,DATA COLLECTION
BY APPLYING TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES,DEBREIFING SESSIONS
PRESENTED BY
SHIMIL ABRAHAM

2. INTRODUCTION
 Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) is considered one of the
popular and effective approaches to gather information in
rural areas.
 In fact, it is a shift from extractive survey questionnaires to
experience sharing by local people. PRA is based on village
experiences where communities effectively manage their
natural resources.

3. During PRA
 The field work is people-oriented. It seeks information on
indigenous knowledge, local customs and practices.
 Therefore, the team should begin analysing and evaluating
data at the very start of the work and continue on throughout
the fieldwork.

4. RAPPORT BUILDING
 Rapport building is an important task for the team for
collecting reliable information.
 It is usually done to develop communications and to establish
working relationships with the local people.
 Generally, rapport building is initiated immediately as the team
enters a village. This may help the team to bring closer to the
village people.

5. DURING RAPPORT BUILDING
 Start talking to the rural people by wishing them with respect
(includes informal questions)
 Treat and respect rural people as per their local custom.
 Try to meet with local leaders and officials before starting
work in a village
 Clearly explain reasons for coming to the area
 Show genuine interest in the local issues
 Choose time and venue that are convenient for the local
people

6. MAINTAINING PROTOCOLS
 Maintaining protocols in the team is the basic rule in
PRA/RRA methods.
 It is defined that protocols are a set of rules governing how
people act in a given situation, a code of conduct.
 It is further elaborated that RRA protocols are rules of
interpersonal behaviour by which an PRA team agrees to
operate.

7. Data collection by applying tools and
techniques
 Here the worker Starts collecting information by applying
appropriate tools and techniques once the rapport is
developed in a village.
Some techniques for collecting information are:
 Semi-Structured Interviewing
It is the principal method used in RRA. SSI is conducted with key
informants, who have good knowledge about the history of the
village and its resources.
In this method, actual questions are created during the interview.
Questions should be precise and easy to understand.

8.  Iteration: is one of the techniques for collecting
information in PRA methods. In this technique, the same
question is repeatedly asked in different situation for
conforming the given information.
 Probing
The main function of a probe is to encourage the respondent
to answer more fully and accurately. Furthermore, it also
helps to structure the respondent’s answer and make sure
that all topics of interest are covered.

9.  Debriefing sessions and discussions are important during the
PRA. The team members review their field notes after their
fieldwork since, delay causes significant loss of memory and
may seriously affect the results.
Debriefing session

10. Conclusion
 Participatory Rural Appraisal has become very popular in gathering
reliable and precise information in rural areas. It is considered good
for learning about rural life and condition from the rural people.
 The reliable and precise information gathering depends on how the
process is followed by the interdisciplinary team. Therefore,
process is important in RRA/PRA methods. Similarly, some
techniques such as rapport building and key informants interview
are also important in RRA/PRA methods.
 understanding one of the three broadly steps i.e. DURING PRA
along with the other steps are vital in the process of PRA.

11. REFERNCES
 http://www.kstoolkit.org/Participatory Rural Appraisal(PRA).
 http://www.sdplannet-ap.org/Pages/tools-pra.aspxA Process for Participatory Rural
Appraisal.
 http://anthropology-bd.blogspot.in/2008/08/process-for-participatory-rural.html
 http://uphold.jsi.com/Docs/Resources/Research/pra guide for aic.pdf

12. For listening…. Any questions?